PRF/J: Molecular Genetics of Wing Coloration Polymorphism in Heliconius Butterflies: Isolation, Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Linked Nuclear DNA Regions

新热带拟态鸟翼型变化的演变 蝶属Heliconius蝴蝶（共38种）是一种 研究遗传漂变作用的理想系统， 自然选择在地理种族的形成。 年的 研究这一系统未能揭示潜在的机制， 在这片土地上， 归因。 通过RAPD分子遗传标记的筛选， 在回交后代中与翅型等位基因分离， 可以识别和测序核DNA片段连接 从多个地理种族的模式改变等位基因， 广布的种（Heliconius erato）。 的系统发育分析 每个模式相关标记在不同的H. erato种族将是 与种内独立系统发育假说相比， 从线粒体基因的关系，以确定是否类似 在异地种族的翅膀模式已保持随着时间的推移， 选择，或出现了多个和独立于分离 祖先 %%% 研究结果将加深我们对交替的作用的理解， 模仿复合体产生的进化力量， 为基因组图谱研究提供初步模板， 赫利康纽斯 这项研究还将阐明 分子水平上的表型选择。 的可能性 识别功能上参与模式的基因 形成是一个令人兴奋的，因为它已被假设， 负责翅型的发育途径是同源的 在所有的蝴蝶中（可能还有所有的鳞翅目）。 如果这是 的确，这将对分子生物学产生深远的影响， 一般的发育生物学。

The evolution of wing pattern variation in Neotropical mimetic Heliconius butterflies (altogether 38 species in the genus) is an ideal system for investigating the roles of genetic drift and natural selection in the formation of geographical races. Years of studying this system have failed to reveal underlying mechanisms to which a stunning diversity of distinct allopatric forms may be attributed. By identifying RAPD molecular genetic markers that co- segregate with wing-pattern alleles in backcrossed broods, it will be possible to identify and sequence nuclear DNA fragments linked to pattern-altering alleles from multiple geographical races of a widespread species (Heliconius erato). A phylogenetic analysis of each pattern-related marker among different H. erato races will be compared to an independent phylogenetic hypothesis of intraspecific relationships from a mitochondrial gene, to determine if similar wing patterns in allopatric races have been maintained over time by selection, or have arisen multiply and independently from separate ancestors. %%% Results will enhance our understanding of the roles of alternate evolutionary forces in the production of a mimicry complex and provide a preliminary template for genomic map studies in Heliconius. This study will also illuminate the effects of selection on phenotype at the molecular level. The possibility of identifying genes that are functionally involved in pattern formation is an exciting one, for it has been hypothesized that the developmental pathway responsible for wing patterns is homologous in all butterflies (and possibly all Lepidoptera). If this is true, it would have far reaching implications for molecular developmental biology in general.